Tedelund, Elin

Abstract [en]

The purpose of the thesis is to exam how preschools inspired of Reggio Emilia philosophy is practicing the involvement of children’s interest in project work. The aim of this study is to contribute with new knowledge in which way children’s interest is made use of and how children can get involved within the boundaries of project work. The study has its starting point by following issues:

- Which methods are used by the teacher to enable children’s interest in project work?- To what extend are children given influence and participation in project work?- Which of the children’s communicative resources and expressions such as gestures, looks and speech are the ones who get the most space to influence a project work?

This is a case study where the information has been produced, processed and analyzed by a qualitative method. To collect data, semi-structured interviews with teachers have been combined with observations. The study links with Basil Bernstein's (2000) theory of power and control as well as Fanny Davidsson (2018) and Harry Shier's (2001) perspective on influence and participation.

The results of the study show a complex picture in which different factors interact and give children more or less influence. The study shows that the most prominent methods the teachers use to be able to work based on children's interest are through observing, listening and reflection. Furthermore, the result shows that the structure of the activity, the teachers attitude and their child perspective are important for the grade of children's influence and participation in the project work. The children's ability to express themselves verbally and stay within the framework of the project work also proves to be of importance for the grade of children's influence and participation.